Brilliant Crusaders off the mark with historic Odsal victory

Fantastic! What a trip! The Celtic Crusaders finally claimed their first Super League win on Sunday with a simply brilliant 30-24 win at Odsal against a shell-shocked Bradford Bulls side. 60 or so travelling Crusaders fans celebrated as if they'd won the Grand Final as John Dixon's men finally got off the mark with a thoroughly deserved victory against one of the sport's most established names.

A brilliant trip. A superb day for Rugby League in South Wales.

I've celebrated some momentous victories for different teams in different sports over the years but I've enjoyed few as many as Sunday's win as the Crusaders finally claimed their inaugural Super League victory at a rain-sodden, windswept Odsal.

The majority of the Bulls fans are a friendly but largely pessimistic lot. Before the game many commented that Cru "could well get their first win today". I scoffed at their concerns and claimed that a Bulls team who had just won away at St.Helens and brushed past Wakefield shouldn't have too much to worry about. I was, of course, praying they were right - but with Tony Duggan's long-term injury recently confirmed and a number of key players still missing I couldn't see far past another defeat. How wrong I was; and how great it felt.

Our small, passionate band of away fans were in terrific voice all afternoon and comfortably outsung 7,000 home fans. "We can't get a word in edge ways" was the response from one disillusioned Bulls fans when the Cru faithful politely suggested Odsal may well be a library. It's a brilliant stadium - but all the noise came from those from South Wales!!

Crucially, the visitors took the lead and, from there, never let it go despite being pushed so close by the Yorkshire outfit. Chris Beasley broke the deadlock as he took advantage of an awkward bounce from a grubber kick from the much improved Jace van Dijk to touch down. Josh Hannay missed the conversion but went onto blast over two important penalties as the visitors opened up an eight-point advantage.

Bulls had their chances to reduce the arrears but a mixture of a sloppy surface, poor handling and resilient Cru defending left the hosts frustrated. However, I must admit to thinking we'd blown it when a sloppy error allowed the Bulls to get back into the game on the stroke of half-time.

Ben Flower fumbled a tame grubber kick in front of his own posts and Andy Lynch seized the loose ball to score and Bradford skipper Paul Deacon booted over the extras. Cru led 8-6 at the break.

The interval brought plenty of banter for the Bulls mascots - "Your Mum's a Cow, Bullman" - before the Cru XIII returned to the field and burst into action. Any fears that Lynch's 39th-minute try would deal a body blow to Cru's morale were swept away as David Tangata-Toa capped a neat passing move with the try and Hannay converted the extras.

The Bulls were rattled and Cru bagged another six points just minutes later as Luke Withers latched onto Matty Smith's kick under the posts. Hannay's conversion put the visitors fourteen points ahead.

Bradford battled back as Michael Worrincy wriggled over the line and Deacon again punted between the sticks; but Cru refused to let their heads drop and continued to show new-found resilience as they quickly responded with a superb effort of their own.

Luke Dyer's try must go down as moment of the match and one of the best of the season to date. Van Dijk hit an ambitious kick high into the air, Dyer caught it brilliantly amid a challenge from two Bulls defenders. He then seemed to grow wings and float in the air before amazingly touching the ball down between the two Bradford players. Perhaps I'm biased, perhaps I'm exaggerating - but it looked as if Dyer had worked miracles to get the ball down. A superb solo effort and, though Hannay missed the kick, Cru's twelve-point lead was restored.

Bradford fought back courtesy of a Steve Menzies try and another Deacon conversion before another Hannay penalty put Cru eight-points clear. The Bulls were penalised for a high tackle on Ryan O'Hara and Cru's 29-year-old Australian centre floated the ball over the posts. It took an age to dip; but it was there!

Crusaders were starting to show signs of fatigue and the Bulls threatened a late comeback that would have been so, so cruel on Dixon's men. Sykes pushed over the line and Deacon converted to cut the arrears to two points with two minutes left. Everyone from sunny South Wales feared the worst - but scenes of celebrations were literally seconds away.

Aussie Ben Jeffries needlessly stepped out of play as he caught Cru's kick-off leaving the Bulls in disarray. Cru pushed men onto the right flank for the final attack and Luke Dyer found space to seize a Jason Chan pass and steam over the line. The players went mental and as Hannay's missed conversion was accompanied by the hooter; the travelling Black & Gold Army went absolutely ballistic.

Red-faced Bulls players charged down the tunnel as Cru's players and backroom staff celebrated with the fans after the whistle. A historic win and a moment to savour. Get in Cru!

Hopefully this can be the start of something very, very big. South Wales must realise that it has a Super League team. Home games against Catalan Dragons and Wakefield are next before we journey to "local rivals" Harlequins. I'm quite rightly getting carried away - but Dixon will earmark all of those games as "winnable".

Well done Crusaders. It's been a long time coming; but what a fantastic win.

Full Time - Bradford Bulls 24-30 Celtic Crusaders
Attendance - 7,602